Hindu Last Rites: Antyeshti
Hindu Last Rites: Antyeshti

Author: Dr. A. V. Srinivasan

Publisher: Periplus Line LLC

Published:

Total Pages: 72

ISBN-13: 1649213883

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A practical approach to preparation and performance of Hindu Last Rites in North America. Includes a brief traditional ceremony (recommended as a last resort if a qualified priest is not available), with additional readings and prayers for following days. Basic text in English; Sanskrit recitations and quotes in Sanskrit lettering with English transliteration and translation. Prof. Subhash Kak: Dr. A.V. Srinivasan is America's foremost interpreter of Vedic ritual for our generation...Antyeshti provides much inspirational material for comfort and understanding. Prof. Jeff Long: "...not only a 'how-to' guide to the Hindu funerary rites... The list of suggested readings from Hindu scriptures for those who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one is a great resource."

Hindu Rites and Rituals
Hindu Rites and Rituals

Author: K V Singh

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2015-11-25

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 9385890042

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Why is the tulsi considered sacred? What is the significance of namaste? Why do Hindus light a lamp before performing a ritual? Why is it forbidden to sleep facing the south? Why do Hindus chant 'shanti' three times after performing a rite? Millions of Hindus the world over grow up observing rites, rituals and religious practices that lie at the heart of Hinduism, but which they don't know the significance of. Often the age-old customs, whose relevance is lost to modern times, are dismissed as meaningless superstitions. The truth, however, is that these practices reveal the philosophical and scientific approach to life that has characterized Hindu thought since ancient times; it is important to revive their original meanings today. This handy book tells the fascinating stories and explains the science behind the Hindu rites and rituals that we sometimes follow blindly. It is essential reading for anyone interested in India's cultural tradition.

Dharma Artha Kama Moksha
Dharma Artha Kama Moksha

Author: Devdutt Pattanaik

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2021-03-19

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 9354224458

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Artha-shastra is about generating food, i.e. wealth, by creating goods and services; Kama-shastra is about indulging our hungers with this food. Dharma-shastra insists we consider the hunger of others, while Moksha-shastra is about outgrowing our hungers, in order to be detached and generous. Together, these four Hindu shastras provide a framework within which human action, its purposes and consequences, can be defined; together, they validate human existence and give it meaning. In Dharma Artha Kama Moksha, Devdutt Pattanaik uses his unique understanding of mythology to provide an accessible and lucid guide to the Hindu way of thinking, with short essays that are crisp expositions of important concepts.

Hinduism For Dummies
Hinduism For Dummies

Author: Amrutur V. Srinivasan

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-07-12

Total Pages: 397

ISBN-13: 0470878584

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Your hands-on guide to one of the world's major religions The dominant religion of India, "Hinduism" refers to a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies that have developed over thousands of years. Today, the United States is home to approximately one million Hindus. If you've heard of this ancient religion and are looking for a reference that explains the intricacies of the customs, practices, and teachings of this ancient spiritual system, Hinduism For Dummies is for you! Provides a thorough introduction to this earliest and popular world belief system Information on the rites, rituals, deities, and teachings associated with the practice of Hinduism Explores the history and teachings of the Vedas, Brahmans, and Upanishads Offers insight into the modern daily practice of Hinduism around the world Continuing the Dummies tradition of making the world's religions engaging and accessible to everyone, Hinduism For Dummies is your hands-on, friendly guide to this fascinating religion.

Everything You Want to know about Pitru Karma
Everything You Want to know about Pitru Karma

Author: P R KANAN

Publisher: Giri Trading Agency Private Limited

Published: 2021-02-20

Total Pages: 115

ISBN-13: 8179508552

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Vedas and Smritis are the roots of Sanatana Dharma. Many are the Samskaras (purificatory rituals) prescribed in Smritis for the upliftment of human being to Godhood, which is the sole purpose of the rare and invaluable human birth. Of them, Antyeshti, the last Samskara performed for the person, who has departed from his body and subsequent Shraddhas performed for his comfortable journey to the afterworld and settling down in an agreeable environment, play a very important and decisive role. rituals connected with Apara Kriyas and Shraddhas in the authoritative perspective, a brief summary in English of the same is attempted in the following pages to serve as an introductory guide.

Rtu Vidyā
Rtu Vidyā

Author: Sinu Joseph

Publisher: Notion Press

Published: 2020-11-29

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1649198671

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The book ?tu Vidy? emerged in search of answers to questions asked by adolescent girls and women in India during the author’s interactions with them as part of Menstrual Health workshops, conducted over a span of a decade across rural India. In an attempt to decode menstrual practices, the author undertook a journey across India and studied various indigenous knowledge systems such as ?a?-Dar?ana, ?yurved, Tantra, Cakra, Y?g, ?gama ??stra, Jyotis?a ?a?stra, and several sub-texts from these categories. As a result, the book goes beyond just describing cultural practices and takes a deep dive into explaining the scientific and logical reasoning behind the origin of these practices. This book is for all Indian women who have unanswered questions pertaining to menstrual practices, for menstrual researchers who will find a treasure trove of potential areas for research pertaining to menstrual health, for sportswomen to discover the ancient techniques that worked in sync with women’s periods and not against it, and also for the feminist who assumes that cultural practices around menstruation are a taboo that needs to be done away with. The correct understanding of the science behind menstrual practices, as given in this book, will help women prevent menstrual difficulties, develop a positive attitude toward menstruation, and learn to work in sync with nature’s cycles. ?tu (pronounced as ruthu) is one of the terms for menstruation in Sanskrit. Vidy? means knowledge. ?tu Vidy? is the author’s attempt to bring together various indigenous knowledge systems that provide information about the science of menstruation, which is relevant even to this day.

Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond
Hinduism - Ritual, Reason and Beyond

Author: Ashok Mishra

Publisher: StoryMirror Infotech Pvt Ltd

Published: 2019-08-03

Total Pages: 540

ISBN-13: 9388698134

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The book is journey through 5000 years of evolution of Hinduism, and is outcome of seven years of study to understand the roots of Hinduism. Tracing the genesis of Hinduism to pre-Indus Valley period, the book explains Hindu, Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma, before it takes one through Hinduism’s oldest scriptures - the four Vedas, the four components of each Veda, and what they contain. How all original translations of Vedic texts were done by Western Sanskrit scholars, and why their works have left scope for doubt about the fidelity of translations. The yajnas (yagya) like Ashvamedha, Rajsooya, Vajpeya, etc., about which we only hear on TV serials and talk shows, have been demystified. The reader will be taken aback reading the sheer size and scale of Soma yajna, described step by step, in great detail. Hinduism’s journey to the Age of Reason, the Upanishads, its encounter with Buddhism, and its transformation into idol worshipping society with many gods and a multitude of stories about its millions of gods is lucidly explained. Puranas, what they contain and what was the reason they were created, has been described and explained next. Hinduism's journey to its modern form - idol worship, the modern puja, detailed description of puja and Sanskaras like Vivaha, their detailed description, the meaning of each action and how they are conducted, the gift to the priest, types of idols, their consecration, all are explained to help a reader understand the why and the how of what we do as a Hindu. The book concludes with a discussion of - Do mantras have power? & Do rituals have meaning?